PlainZIP

Lake Mills, WI · standard

ZIP Code 53551

Jefferson County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

8,273
76/sq mi
$94,401
Median income
$357,400
Median home value
45.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Lake Mills pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 23%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 25%
home value, US ZIPs
76
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53551 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 53551 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, home to 8,273 residents across 109.4 square miles, a density of 76 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 53551 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $94,401 (21% above the Wisconsin average), while per-capita income is $46,782. Local economic indicators show a 5.5% poverty rate alongside 2.1% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $357,400 (44% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,201 monthly, and 74.5% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 24 minutes. To put 53551 in local context, 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Jefferson County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 53551

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Mills, WI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53551.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 53551, Lake Mills, WI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

8,273

Population

109.4

Area (sq mi)

76

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 53551?

41.0

Median Age

52.4%

Male

47.6%

Female

2.4%

Foreign-Born

White 91.9%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$94,401

Median Household Income

+21% vs state

$46,782

Per Capita Income

5.5%

Poverty Rate

2.1%

Unemployment Rate

23.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 53551 ranks nationally

Lake Mills, WI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$94,401 Top 23% higher than 77% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,177

Total Housing Units

3,769

Occupied Units

408

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 74.5%
Renter 25.5%

$357,400

Median Home Value

+44% vs state

$1,201

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+8.3%

YoY Change (2024)

248

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+148%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 53551 have increased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +148% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.1% 168
2021 +9.9% 184
2022 +10.7% 204
2023 +12.4% 229
2024 +8.3% 248

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 232 business establishments in ZIP 53551, employing approximately 2,607 people with a combined annual payroll of $126,751,000.

232

Businesses

2,607

Employees

$126.8M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 32 13.8%
Retail trade 26 11.2%
Manufacturing 22 9.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 22 9.5%
Health care and social assistance 22 9.5%
Construction 21 9.1%
Accommodation and food services 21 9.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 13 5.6%
Finance and insurance 12 5.2%
Wholesale trade 10 4.3%
Transportation and warehousing 10 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 3.5%
Educational services 4 1.7%
Information 3 1.3%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 53551 vs 53038 →

ZIP 53551 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53551 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 53551 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 53551 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
53038 Johnson Creek, WI 4,013 6.5 mi
53594 Waterloo, WI 5,144 7.8 mi
53523 Cambridge, WI 4,949 8.9 mi
53549 Jefferson, WI 10,414 9.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

53094 standard
Watertown, WI
Pop: 19,169
53538 standard
Fort Atkinson, WI
Pop: 18,468
53549 standard
Jefferson, WI
Pop: 10,414
53594 standard
Waterloo, WI
Pop: 5,144
53038 standard
Johnson Creek, WI
Pop: 4,013
53156 standard
Palmyra, WI
Pop: 2,992

Related Areas

Jefferson County Lake Mills, WI Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 53551 in? ▼
ZIP code 53551 (Lake Mills) is located in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Jefferson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jefferson-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53551? ▼
ZIP code 53551 in Lake Mills, WI has a population of 8,273 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53551? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 53551 is $94,401, which is 24% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53551? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 53551 is $357,400, which is 28% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53551? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 53551 is White at 91.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53551? ▼
ZIP code 53551 has 232 business establishments employing approximately 2,607 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53551? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53551 are: Other services (except public administration) (32), Retail trade (26), Manufacturing (22). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53551? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53551 increased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 148%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 53551? ▼
In ZIP code 53551, 68.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 53551? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53551 is 23.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 53551? ▼
In ZIP code 53551, approximately 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53551? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53551 is 5.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.